My blog featuring my "Gastar" series of novellas along with other fun articles/reviews in dark fantasy and other genres

C.C.Cole

author C.C.Cole's blog

Friday, June 8, 2012

Review of “Cracks” by Shelia Kohler

I saw the film “Cracks” and
out of curiosity decided to read the book and found it to be more deviated from
the movie than expected. As in the above
description, (book summary) the setting is in South Africa and Fiamma is an Italian girl from
an aristocratic family. As a teenager,
she enrolls in an isolated school with other girls her age but has little in
common with them, and with the aid of a favored but abusive teacher, the
situation degenerates into bullying and finally tragedy.

What I found interesting is
how the story crosses so many layers in human culture that fulminates in the
horrendous ending. Culture differences
with Fiamma being from Italy, class difference with her wealthy background, and
the way aristocracy sees commoners in their eyes; Fiamma wasn’t interested in
the other girls, though she intended no ill will. However, being beautiful, rich, well read,
and an excellent swimmer, everyone had some level of obsession with
Fiamma.

The swimming teacher, Miss G,
was the favorite of the girls because she made them feel special. But when she found Fiamma more special than
everyone else, it drew the ire of them all, despite of her known mental instability. Miss G abused her position as teacher by
manipulating the girls, abusing Fiamma and the other teachers turned a blind
eye to the obvious behavior.

Last, but not least, is the
ultimate breakdown of humanity by bullying kids not understanding the
consequences of their actions. In the
“Lord of the Flies” moment, the girls showed they were little different from
animals as they degenerated into teenage bullies ganging up on a girl made to
be a pariah because of jealousy; to be punished only by their own guilt as they
aged. The lack of accountability to
society of the crime is disturbing and opens the bare truth that young people
do terrible things with few good answers regarding rule of law.

“Cracks” is a mesmerizing
read, a bit laborious and devastating.
The book adds many more elements than the film. Four stars!